University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball head coach John Barrett was inducted into the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame on Thursday night (Sept. 16).
 
"Being inducted is truly an honour," said Barrett. "I guess this means I've given something to the sport, but the reality is it has given so much more to me. I can't repay what I've had the privilege of experiencing. As well, I met my wife, a former Varsity Blue, on a beach volleyball court! The sport has been my passion, my profession, my life and I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given. There are too many people to thank but I'd like to thank them all."

Barrett didn't begin his volleyball playing career until he was 16 years old in 1978 but he proved to be a quick study due to his outstanding athleticism. Despite only having played the sport for a few years, Barrett was selected to the junior national team in 1980. As a member of that team, Barrett gained his first international experience competing in the world junior championships in Colorado Springs in 1981.
 
Following his high school years, Barrett was selected to the national senior team in 1981. He later competed in world championships in Argentina in 1982 and the World Student Games in 1983, where the Canadian men earned the silver medal, losing a closely-fought match to Cuba. Perhaps the highlight of his national team career was competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where the team finished in fourth place.
 
Barrett also played CIAU men's volleyball for the Calgary Dinosaurs before transferring to play for the Manitoba Bisons, with whom he won a national championship in 1984-85 while being named the tournament's most valuable player.
 
As a member of the national team, Barrett competed in the World Student Games in 1985 and the world Championships in 1990 before rejoining the national team in 1996 to help the team as they worked towards qualifying for the Olympic Games. Barrett later would go on to play professional volleyball in Italy and France for 14 years with nine different teams. He and his teammates won the European Cup with Bologna in 1986 and the French Cup with Bordeaux in 1991.
 
Barrett is currently entering his 11th season as the head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball team and continues to give back to the sport in that capacity. In addition, Barrett served as the head coach for 2003 beach teams at 2003 Pan American Games and was head coach of the national Junior team in 2014-15, when the team competed in the 2015 world junior championships in Tijuana, Mexico.
 
Barrett was also named as the head coach for the Canadian squad at the World Student Games 2015 and the head coach of the national "B" team in 2018. Barrett has been recognized twice as the OUA coach of the year.

Source; Volleyball Canada